CLEVELAND -- A popular way that many people pamper themselves has forced some to seek medical help, as bacteria have found their way into some pedicure whirlpools.

More than 100 women in California came down with skin infections (pictured, below) after getting a pedicure.

"These women got a kind of infection caused by a mycobacteria," said Dr. Neil Korman of University Hospitals in Cleveland. "You assume they do everything correct -- maybe that's a bad thing to do."

Doctors believe that some of the women were more susceptible because they had just shaved their legs.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday is grabbing the attention of the medical community because of the questions the article doesn't answer.

"They found organisms in the bath and organisms in the patients to be the same, so we don't know the source so far," said Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum of University Hospitals.

Before a spa can open in Ohio, it has to be certified by the state. Inspectors can also make surprise visits.

There are also strict rules in place to keep salons clean and sanitary.

At Mario's International Spa in Medina, Ohio, it's the No. 1 priority.

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"We will run disinfectant through the jets for 20 minutes, sanitize with hospital-grade disinfectant and run plain hot water after (we) run disinfectant through," said Connie Hegbar of Mario's.

Sylvia Buckholtz and her daughter are both nurses, so they said that safety is a concern.

"I go to a reputable place, I think because of the line of work we're in," she said.

Make sure the spa you go to looks clean. Doctors said that to be safe, don't shave your legs before a pedicure and don't go if you have cuts on your legs.